I agree that these two don't look like FM&M. In actuality, Jim and Marion Jordan look EXACTLY like you might picture FM&M from their shows. This would have been a perfectly acceptable TV series if not named FM&M, and may have ran much longer too. Among Cathi Lewis' notable jobs, was as the original Jane Stacy on "My Friend Irma", and 'Jade' the girlfriend of Race Bannon on "Jonny Quest".
I can't believe the studio ever thought they could pull it off without the original leads. The whole feel of this is way off base. Still, if I ignore the fact they keep calling each other "McGee" and "Molly" and pretend it's a different show entirely, then I kind of like it. Cathy Lewis is great to watch after hearing her in what seems like every female radio part that wasn't occupied by Lurene Tuttle and I'd never heard of Bob Sweeney before, but I like him now!
As a (recent) Fibber McGee and Molly fan, and OTR in general, they should have called this show anything but Fibber McGee and Molly. The show may have worked under a different name, but I can fully understand that without the Jordans, it just wasn't Fibber and Molly . It seems wrong to me in 2010, so must have been even more wrong to the fans of the day, still hearing the real thing on the radio.
In the actual series, the title sequence was animated by Art Clokey (the genius behind "GUMBY" and "DAVEY & GOLIATH"), featuring abstract clay figurines representing "Fibber" & "Molly". The theme, Billy Mills' "Wing to Wing", (long familiar to radio audiences), continued to be used, in a different orchestration. The daily 15 minute radio version was on NBC from 1953 through '56, 'bigred' [10-10:15pm(et)], also heard weekdays at 11:45am(et) during 1955-'56.
...and Cathy Lewis (actor/producer Elliott Lewis' first wife) , who had co-starred with Marie Wilson on the radio and early TV versions of "MY FRIEND IRMA", was chosen to portray "Molly". This is the unaired version of the pilot episode that was first telecast on September 15, 1959 [the series was alternately sponsored by Standard Brands {Chase & Sanborn, Blue Bonnet margarine, etc.} and The Singer Company {Singer Sewing Machines}]. The announcer heard at the beginning is Bob LeMond.
Ovre the years, Jim and Marian Jordan were approached TWICE by NBC to appear in a TV version of their famous radio series- both times, "Fibber" declined (the second time, it was because "Molly" wasn't in the best of health to tackle a weekly TV series...she died in 1961). By 1959, the network owned the rights to the show, and decided to produce their own version, starring veteran radio comedian and character actor Bob Sweeney [he later became a key director of "THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW"]....
Jesus. It's not on radio anymore, people can READ the freaking credits.
WackdProductions 5 months ago in playlist #46-Old TV Shows
What shows up onscreen at 8:42 is reminisceent of what Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz drove in "The Long, Long, Long Trailer"!
A1l2l2e2n4 7 months ago
Uh, McGee, that car trunk isn't the hall closet ...
A1l2l2e2n4 7 months ago
I agree that these two don't look like FM&M. In actuality, Jim and Marion Jordan look EXACTLY like you might picture FM&M from their shows. This would have been a perfectly acceptable TV series if not named FM&M, and may have ran much longer too. Among Cathi Lewis' notable jobs, was as the original Jane Stacy on "My Friend Irma", and 'Jade' the girlfriend of Race Bannon on "Jonny Quest".
PatrickNailon 11 months ago
I can't believe the studio ever thought they could pull it off without the original leads. The whole feel of this is way off base. Still, if I ignore the fact they keep calling each other "McGee" and "Molly" and pretend it's a different show entirely, then I kind of like it. Cathy Lewis is great to watch after hearing her in what seems like every female radio part that wasn't occupied by Lurene Tuttle and I'd never heard of Bob Sweeney before, but I like him now!
Kimdomaine 1 year ago
To tell you the truth, I wasn't able to get through even this part! May God bless Jim and Marion Jordan!
LandondeeL 1 year ago
As a (recent) Fibber McGee and Molly fan, and OTR in general, they should have called this show anything but Fibber McGee and Molly. The show may have worked under a different name, but I can fully understand that without the Jordans, it just wasn't Fibber and Molly . It seems wrong to me in 2010, so must have been even more wrong to the fans of the day, still hearing the real thing on the radio.
avlisk 1 year ago
It's nice to see the great Charles Lane playing the salesman
slowdream101 1 year ago
In the actual series, the title sequence was animated by Art Clokey (the genius behind "GUMBY" and "DAVEY & GOLIATH"), featuring abstract clay figurines representing "Fibber" & "Molly". The theme, Billy Mills' "Wing to Wing", (long familiar to radio audiences), continued to be used, in a different orchestration. The daily 15 minute radio version was on NBC from 1953 through '56, 'bigred' [10-10:15pm(et)], also heard weekdays at 11:45am(et) during 1955-'56.
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
...and Cathy Lewis (actor/producer Elliott Lewis' first wife) , who had co-starred with Marie Wilson on the radio and early TV versions of "MY FRIEND IRMA", was chosen to portray "Molly". This is the unaired version of the pilot episode that was first telecast on September 15, 1959 [the series was alternately sponsored by Standard Brands {Chase & Sanborn, Blue Bonnet margarine, etc.} and The Singer Company {Singer Sewing Machines}]. The announcer heard at the beginning is Bob LeMond.
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
Ovre the years, Jim and Marian Jordan were approached TWICE by NBC to appear in a TV version of their famous radio series- both times, "Fibber" declined (the second time, it was because "Molly" wasn't in the best of health to tackle a weekly TV series...she died in 1961). By 1959, the network owned the rights to the show, and decided to produce their own version, starring veteran radio comedian and character actor Bob Sweeney [he later became a key director of "THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW"]....
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
I knew the name Sweeney sounded familiar. Thanks Barry.
hwy61media 2 years ago
It's just not the same without Molly's Irish accent. I remember this actress mostly as the bosses mean sister on "Hazel".
mugwump666 2 years ago 3
Maybe that's why it didn't last on TV :) Thanks for commenting.
hwy61media 2 years ago
I knew she looked familiar.
On radio, there was always an undercurrent of adoration along with Fibber's frustration with life in their voices.
This presentation comes across too much like the Bickersons at time.
I remember my mother listening to the 15 minute radio episodes in the late 1950's in the kitchen.
bigred997 2 years ago